Marriage and Our Culture: The best 1 hour, 43 minutes available online on the meaning of marriage, I dare say, come from Tim and Kathy Keller here.  So many transformative thoughts and practical counsel for transforming your marriage this summer. Enjoy!

What about Forgiveness when the Offender doesn’t Repent? Some helpful thoughts (on a difficult topic) about what to do when you’ve been wronged, hurt, and sinned against yet the person has not (or will not) repent of the sin. 

Why I never recommend Jesus Calling by Sarah Young This is (probably) controversial for some people who make Jesus Calling a regular part of their devotional lives. Yet, I have issues with Jesus Calling, as it undercuts, I believe, the sufficiency of Scripture. Is scripture really “enough” for our lives or do we need “extra words” from Jesus coming through the pen of Sarah Young? If you read Jesus Calling, I encourage you to read the reviews of the book by Tim Challies here and here which express these concerns winsomely yet clearly.

For instance, the January 8th “words from Jesus” sounds like, to me, a very far cry from the biblical Jesus:

Softly I announce my Presence. Shimmering hues of radiance tap gently at your consciousness, seeking entrance. Though I have all Power in heaven and on earth, I am infinitely tender with you. The weaker you are, the more gently I approach you. Let your weakness by a door to My Presence. Whenever you feel inadequate, remember that I am your ever-present Help.

Simply put, that’s not the biblical Jesus that I know. It doesn’t seem like the way Jesus spoke. Tim Challies writes that many of the devotions that supposedly come from Jesus sound more like a middle age woman offering you therapy than the real Jesus. Reader: Beware. Beware of a “21st century therapeutic Jesus” masquerading as the biblical Jesus. Simply put, why not read the Psalms instead of Jesus Calling? The Bible truly is enough for our lives of faith, for our sufferings and difficulties, and for our daily encouragement as we go through life.

What devotional books do I recommend? Four good devotional books:

1.  Tim Keller’s excellent daily devotional on the Book of Proverbs: God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs

2.  New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp

3. Daily Doctrine by Kevin DeYoung (coming out Oct. 1, 2024)

A profound statement recently stopped me in my tracks: “A mature Christian is easily edified.”

This is, I believe, a proper and fitting goal of our Christian discipleship.

Because far too often, don’t you find yourself being:

• too easily offended (by others)

• too easily distracted (by technology)

• too easily frustrated (by the demands of the day)

• too easily stressed out (by the busyness of life)

• too easily irritated (by your family)

What exactly would a believer’s life look like who is “easily edified’?

A believer who is “easily edified” would be falling more in love with Jesus, amazed by the grace and mercy of God. “God has been so faithful to me!”

A believer who is “easily edified” would experience the full repertoire of “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Eph. 5:19) as all avenues to worship: “God is so quickly praised and thanked in my life!”

A believer who is “easily edified” would drink deeply from the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation: “The full counsel of God is like living water to my desert-like parched soul!”

“A mature Christian is easily edified.”

Yet, what is true for our individual lives of discipleship is also true for living in community as the body of Christ:

• The critical spirit who likes things “my way” in the church would slowly be choked out.

• The church consumerism in all of us would slowly be wrestled down to the ground. 

An “easily edified” community of Christ-followers would begin to say things like: “You know what? I can be blessed by whoever is preaching. I can encounter God through whatever songs we sing today and whoever is leading worship.”

“You know what? I’ve learned that even though I don’t agree with every decision of the church’s leadership, I am becoming more generous in my praise than in my complaints. In fact, I trust that the elders and staff are seeking the mind of Christ, and I’d want to be shown the same level of graciousness if I was in their shoes. In the end, I am purposely refraining from gossiping about my church’s faults and shortcomings and intentionally finding more ways to celebrate the faithfulness of God in my church.”

“A mature community of Christ-followers is easily edified.”

Guest Post: Rev. Kristian & Lydia Eikevik

Hey church, how are we doing with marriage? The Bible speaks from its first pages of a spiritual institution between man and woman, a sovereign calling and place of worship. It’s fallen into some disrepair since we got kicked out of the Garden, but it’s made holy again by the blood of Jesus. And the Spirit longs to breathe life into it. For better and worse, the church always cooks in the pot of culture— and that culture disciples us every day. But praise God, for the Scriptures that don't change and a King who wants to bring us back to Himself in repentance and reverence. Check out the fuller sermon notes below and do a heart check. Does our marital life line up with our Sunday worship? What do the people around us see and hear? And how do we speak of it among ourselves and to the next generation?

Check out the Sermon Brief from “God’s Design for Marriage”.

It has been argued by anthropologists that there are over 50+ words for “snow” used by the Eskimos. Snow is important to Eskimo culture and fundamental to live as a human in the arctic environment.

In a similar way, Simon Dunn recently taught about the fundamental aspect of our existence: we are made to worship God. That is a fundamental reason for our created existence and the telos of where we are headed in the New Heaven and New Earth.

In Revelation, John sees a majestic vision of praise around the throne of God: .

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Rev. 4:11)

In Ephesians, Paul indicates that we are to be about “the praise of his glory” (Eph. 1:12, see also Eph.1:6, 14).

Simon pointed out that, in the Old Testament, there are seven different words for “praise” with various nuances of meaning and connotations for our life of worship.

What snow is to the Eskimo so is praise to being human!

Let everything that has breathe praise the Lord! (Psalm 150:6)

Tim Keller finished strong. Tim Keller finished well. His life and calling has me thinking.

A Crisis has Developed right under the Nose of the American Church

In March 2022, Barna revealed a sad statistic about the state of American pastoral leadership – 42% of pastors have “given real, serious consideration to quitting being in full-time ministry within the last year”, citing “the immense stress of the job” as the number one reason. 

Even 20 years ago, I remember hearing that 50% of seminary graduates drop-out of full-time ministry within the first five years. When you contemplate the enormous financial and personal costs associated with receiving a three-year M.Div. degree, the situation can fairly be summarized as “the stats are staggering but the stories are heartbreaking”.

Over the years, I’ve heard my fair share of anecdotal stories about the meteoric rise of pastoral burnout and the myriad of churches experiencing back-to-back-to-back pastoral transitions where the previous pastor either flamed out spectacularly or went quietly into the night in being unable to sustain a healthy pastoral tenure at the church (the average tenure is now between three and four years for a senior pastor).

When I was ordained at 27 years of age, I was informed that I was part of the “Seven Percent Club”: only 7% of American Presbyterian clergy were under the age of forty. (I have often wondered whether this meant that I was also part of the “One Percent Club” of Presbytery clergy under the age of 30.) Our denomination has openly talked about the “Gray Wave” which has already started whereby a significant number (majority?) of our pastors are now hitting retirement age. At the other end of the age spectrum, many American seminaries are scrambling to feverishly downsize by selling property or close extension campuses because “Gen Z” is attending seminary at record low rates – meaning that the American church is producing fewer and fewer biblically competent and theologically trained pastors.

A crisis?  Yes. (More like a tsunami.)

My Personal Take: Ministry as Joy

I am thankfully not part of the “42% Club”. I consider ministry an absolute privilege. And a joy. Even in the trials of malaria or the attempted break-ins at our house in Central Africa, I have always considered ministry a joyous privilege.

I get to do this!!

I frequently tell newcomers to our church: “The Lord has brought together so many special people together in this place.” I continue to be thankful for a church family that allows me to “Preach, Pray, and Be with People”. I often boast to my friends around the country about how well Trinity has loved our family from day one.

The Tim Keller Effect

Considering the crisis of American pastoral leadership, it is hardly surprising to witness the extraordinary outpouring of love and appreciation for Tim Keller and his ministry (he recently passed away from pancreatic cancer). Much of the appreciation, amongst the younger generation of leaders, can be summarized with this sentiment:

Tim Keller finished well. Tim Keller finished strong. It can be done.

One day, I hope to look back at my own life and say:

I loved my wife well. I loved my boys well. I faithfully preached the gospel (2 Tim 4:1-2). I discipled believers (Matt 28:19) and raised up leaders (Matt. 4:19). I truly loved the people of Trinity Wellsprings Church by shepherding them with high grace, high truth, and high integrity (1 Peter 4:8; 1 Thess. 2:8).

Three Important Questions for Healthy Congregations

I also recognize that the congregation plays a pivotal role in creating a culture which is healthy and sustainable for the long haul of ministry. Deep down, I believe most congregations long for all of their pastors and staff to love their families well, to thrive in their ministry areas, and to engage in Christ-centered ministry from places of health and sustainability. What does this mean for the congregation? 

Healthy congregations which sustain healthy and joy-filled pastorates habitually ask three important questions:

1)    Can this wait until Monday?

During the installation service for Pastor Kristian, Rev. Dr. George McIlrath recently challenged our congregation with this question: Can it wait until Monday?

His question brought back memories of my first year working as an ordained pastor in Illinois. Those were the days where people still left frequent voice messages on your – gasp! – home phone’s message machine.

I probably received about 70 messages during the course of my first year which started with the phrase: “Sorry to bother you on your day off, BUT…” 

70 times in 52 weeks. Looking back, it was a church that fueled a high level of burnout and turnover amongst its staff. Ultimately, it’s up to the pastor and staff to carve out healthy personal and professional boundaries. Yet, in healthy church cultures, lay leaders who are working closely with staff members know the “day off” of the staff person with which they are working (FYI: my day off is Friday - as Sunday is a “working day”).

I try to limit myself to four main ministry activities during Friday/Saturdays:

• (1)   I occasionally visit the hospital in emergency situations.

• (2)   I occasionally visit the hospital for new births.

• (3)   I participate in the life of the church (visiting missionary, Presbytery meetings, Special Events in the Life of the Church, etc.)

• (4)   I finish prepping for preaching.

I say all this only to say: “Especially if it’s an administrative question where a toilet is not flooding the entire building (yikes!) or a roof is not hanging on for dear life by a single nail, then it can probably wait until Monday.”

Healthy churches cultures frequently ask: “Can it wait until Monday?”

2)    Can you put this in an email?

I recently came home at 6:00 pm on a Monday night. And received 14 text messages.

Here are the text messages that are helpful for pastors:

• “Did you know Joe Smith just had a heart attack; he arrived at the hospital 45 minutes ago.”

• “My wife just gave birth this afternoon. She and the baby are doing great!”

• “My marriage is in crisis. Can we talk?”

Administrative details about the running of the church and its programs and its properties – an email is always better because it communicates “this isn’t pastorally urgent” and “I can wait until you are doing administrative tasks in the office”.

Healthy church cultures frequently ask: “Can you put it in an email?”

3)    Can you practice patience?

Patience is a necessary ingredient for cultivating a healthy church family. Why do I highlight patience as a particular virtue in a healthy church?

First, many of our church’s ministries are either led or co-led or staffed by a team of lay leaders who have full-time lives! Realistically, this means that ministry initiatives and decisions will move at a much slower pace than you might be accustomed to in the business or military arenas. Can you practice patience with the slowness of the church?

Second, think of the big ministry priorities of your pastor: relationships and texts. Relationships take time. Lives are messy. I love listening to people, meeting new people, counseling people, visiting people during hard times, and generally just “being with the flock”.

This is important work. Because it’s the relational work of a pastor. Ministry is relationship.

Yet, I often go home (on Thursday evenings) with the sentiment: “Next week, I’ll do better.” Because I recognize that I missed seeing Mrs. Jane Doe who was in and out of the hospital when another relational crisis blew up. Or I missed reaching out to Mr. John Doe when a leadership hailstorm or administrative windstorm blew across my desk.

Texts also take time. Exegeting ancient texts of scripture requires intellectual curiosity, spiritual sensitivity….and time. About 12-14 hours of my week for a sermon.

Yet certain weeks, the text punches me in the nose. I limp into the pulpit. You can’t see my bandages but a war has been fought in my study. Recently, I was preaching through Ephesians which contains the following:

Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?~Eph. 4:8-9

Oh, wretched preacher that I am! Who will deliver me from this week’s sermon? (Loose pastoral paraphrase of Rom 7:24.)

Some scriptural texts – let the reader understand – take 12 hours only to arrive at the place of complete despondency and homiletical despair before the text.

This is simply to make the point: your pastor is called to make relationships and texts the “main thing” which means, likely, that your pet project or your sacred cow may take a back seat during a normal week. Not because it’s not important. Not because the pastor doesn’t care. Simply because texts and relationships are the main tributaries flowing into the river of the pastor’s schedule.

Healthy church cultures practice patience with the slowness of the church, recognizing that pastors are called to work with relationships and texts in order to prioritize (what the Puritans called) “the care of souls”.

The Crisis of American Churches: What can a Single Church do to Help?  

Given the malaise affecting American pastors specifically and the American church in general, what in the world can a single church really do? 

I do believe that we (at Trinity Wellsprings Church) have a critical role to play in the larger church.

I believe Trinity is a healthy place to experience ministry.

And because I believe in our church and in the effectiveness of our staff, I also believe Trinity has the responsibility to be a “teaching church” where we model a highly relational Jesus-centered ministry to the next generation. 

These are some of the reasons why Trinity chooses to invest in internships and summer ministry interns. Church interns are primarily about investing in the next generation. So young people have the opportunity to see ministry “up close and personal”.  

Can Trinity be a place where young people “get their feet wet in ministry”? A place where their calling to the ministry is tested and tried out? A place where young people are shepherded by a staff team that comes alongside them and by a congregation that encourages them?

Healthy ministry experiences are the fuel and fire that will propel a gospel movement in our country, and I’d love nothing more than for our church family to continue to play a small role in that great and strategic endeavor!

Thankful to be your pastor,

Rev. Dr. Jason Carter

Our church is going through a sermon series on the Gospel of Mark. Our simple prayer is: “Lord, show us Jesus.” In some respects, it’s easier to preach on Daniel or Job or Ephesians because Christians think we already know about Jesus.

We’ve been taught the parables. We’ve heard the miracles. We know how the story ends – with the cross and the resurrection. It’s all so very familiar.

And yet, what would it be like to be re-introduced to Jesus in a fresh way? To be astonished and in awe of Jesus like the crowds? To be overwhelmed and confused, just like the disciples? To be strengthened in our own sufferings as Jesus heads to Jerusalem to die with resolute purpose?

What would God make of me if I took a long and purposeful gaze again at Jesus?  

Let me recommend four popular-level, easy-to-read books on Jesus of Nazareth:

Beautiful Outlaw: Experiencing the Playful, Disruptive, Extravagant Personality of Jesus by John Eldredge (219 pages).

“An intimate encounter with Jesus is the most transforming experience of human existence. To know him as he is, is to come home. To have his life, joy, love, and presence cannot be compared. A true knowledge of Jesus is our greatest need and our greatest happiness.” ~ John Eldredge, p. 11.

Eldredge helps us ponder from various viewpoints the (sometimes hidden) personality of Jesus: his emotional life, his disruptive honesty, his extravagant generosity, and his scandalous freedom at being 100% comfortable in his own skin.

Beautiful Outlaw is a typical Eldredge book: well-written, full of interesting antidotes, and longing to put you in a face-to-face encounter with Jesus.

Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ by John Piper (123 pages).

I still remember exactly where I was (on a dock and overlooking a lake in North Carolina) when I encountered John Piper introducing me to a memorable expression of Jonathan Edwards.  Edwards indicates that what makes Christ glorious is “an admirable conjunction of diverse excellencies”. 

“..we admire Christ for his transcendence, but even more because the transcendence of his greatness is mixed with submission to God. We marvel at him because of his uncompromising justice is tempered with mercy. His majesty is sweetened by meekness. In his equality with God he has a deep reverence for God. Though he is worthy of all good, he was patient to suffer evil.” ~ John Piper, p. 29

In chapter 3, Piper reflects on Rev. 5:5-6 where Jesus is presented as a “Lamb-like lion and a lion-like Lamb” – an admirable conjunction of diverse excellencies which reveals the glory of Christ!

Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ is a very short, very simple book which will point you unmistakably to Jesus.

The Challenge of Jesus: Rediscovering Who Jesus Was and Is by N.T Wright (197 pages, with a new introduction in 2015).

N.T. Wright is often regarded as the foremost living scholar of the New Testament and Early Christianity.  Simply put, his work on Jesus is paradigm-changing. Wright makes you think through old assumptions while portraying Jesus in fresh ways which challenge you to root Jesus in his own historical context but in ways that are fascinating, gripping, and relevant to the modern age.

“The disciplines of prayer and Bible study need to be rooted again and again in Jesus himself if they are not to become idolatrous or self-serving. We have often muted Jesus’ stark challenge, remaking him in our own image and then we are left wondering why our personal spiritualities have become less than exciting and life-changing.” ~ N.T. Wright, p. 11

Back in 2017, I wrote an essay entitled “Jesus as the New Israel: The Reconstitution of the People of God around the Person of Jesus” during a sermon series on the gospel of John. The essay was an attempt to synthesize The Challenge of Jesus for our church family. Yet going directly to the source would be even better!

Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Suffers by Dane Ortlund

This is my absolute favorite popular-level book on Jesus.

This book arrested me with a simple question: What if we avoid deep fellowship with Jesus “out of a muted understanding of his heart”? What if the (Big C) Church has a difficult time fully embracing the heart of Jesus for sinners and suffers?  What would it look like to come to Jesus, understanding that it’s actually our sin and suffering that attracts Jesus to us like a magnet?

“In short: it is impossible for the affectionate heart of Christ to be overcelebrated, made to much of, exaggerated. It cannot be plumbed. But it is easily neglected, forgotten. We draw too little strength from it.” ~ Dane Ortlund, p 29

The affectionate heart of Jesus? “Please help become more convinced of the affectionate heart of Jesus, oh God!”  

Recommending Two Big Books:

Jesus and the Victory of God by N.T. Wright (approx. 650 pages without index/bibliography)

Jesus and the Victory of God is the best book on Jesus that I have ever read. It’s magisterial. It’s paradigm-changing. It’s scholarly yet beautifully and engagingly written. It’s the best “big book” that I’ve ever invested in reading.

N.T. Wright’s contribution in Jesus and the Victory of God will guide future generations of scholars in their own search for the historical Jesus. The Challenge of Jesus is the popular-level book which synthesizes the insights of Jesus and the Victory of God into a manageable meal. Yet sitting down at the original banquet is well-worth the time and energy!

A Theology of Mark’s Gospel by David E. Garland (559 pages).

This volume is part of the “Biblical Theology of the New Testament” series.  Chapters 3-14 are especially helpful in exploring “Major Themes in Mark’s Theology”:

• Chapter 5: Enacted Christology

• Chapter 7: The Kingdom of God in Mark

• Chapter 8: The Secrecy Motifs in Mark

• Chapter 9: Mark’s theology of discipleship

• Chapter 11: Mission in Mark

• Chapter 13: Mark’s Eschatology

If you want to follow-along theologically with the sermon series on the Gospel of Mark, this would be a great in-depth study.